Liberty Lodge Boys learn Safe Health

The boys of Liberty Lodge Boys Training Centre will receive vital information about HIV/AIDS prevention over the next three months.{{more}}

This topic, along with several others, is to be included in the Safe Health Practice programme which was launched at the Liberty Lodge Training Centre on Monday August 3, 2009. The programme, which is sponsored by the United States Peace Corps, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National AIDS Secretariat runs from August 5, 2009 to October 24, 2009.

The programme will also focus on other topics such as building self-esteem, improving communication skills, behavioral and emotional maturity, hygiene and nutrition and human rights. Other activities will include sports, games and arts and craft.

Speaking at the launch, Roseclair Charles of the National Aids Secretariat urged the boys to listen attentively during the sessions and put what they learn into practice. Charles said that the programme comes at a time when society is facing numerous problems with boys. She added that the programme will help the boys to become better individuals. “It’s about you learning how to be a good person,” she said.

Also encouraging the boys was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Mobilization, Rosita Snagg who told the boys to make the best of the learning experience. “It is about you boys learning as much as possible,” she said. Snagg, who said that being a student of the school may be difficult as persons often labeled them delinquent, told the boys to disregard such comments and focus on achieving their goals.

According to Michael Akers, Director of the Liberty Lodge Boys’ Training Centre, the Safe Health Practice programme is just one of the many programmes taught by his institution. “In this particular moment in time we are seeing that HIV/AIDS is becoming a more and more important subject to talk about,” Akers said about the focus on HIV/AIDS for the programme. He added that the programme will also build the leadership skills of the boys. The programme not only caters for residents of the centre, but is open to all boys aged 7 to 17 in the community who may wish to participate.

The facilitators of the programme include persons from the National AIDS Secretariat, the SVG Planned Parenthood Association, the Family Affairs Department, Marion House and the HIV Network of Non-Governmental Organizations. (OS)